Posts tagged ‘power plants’

A series of sweeping changes at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission would alter the agency’s mission to adapt to an evolving US nuclear industry, which is in the grips of a struggle for its economic survival.

Over lunch at a recent energy conference, a fellow attendee asked where I worked and what I did, and I explained that I lead coverage of the US thermal coal market for S&P Global Platts. The gentleman, who worked for a group that finances renewable energy projects, had several questions about coal, and each answer seemed to only increase his incredulity.

“So, let me understand,” said the gentleman finally. “You are bullish on coal?”

We all know the scene in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie where the switch is finally flipped on and Clark W. Griswold’s 250 strands of bulbs burst into light causing a rolling blackout.

Following Griswold’s calamity is a scene where a hand switches on the “auxillary” power plant which brings the city’s lights back to normal.

All over the news last week, media outlets highlighted a June US Energy Information Administration report that showed that for the first time ever, the US generated more electricity from natural gas than from coal in April. EIA data said the US generated 92.5 TWh from natural gas and 88.8 TWh from coal. This is the first time ever that any fuel source produced more electricity than coal. Although this might be a temporary blip (winter demand will send coal’s numbers past natural gas), it is still a huge deal.

The UK’s premier business lobbying organization, the CBI, has called on the business world to “turn up the volume” in the debate about the country’s relationship with Europe. A referendum is expected by 2017 to decide whether or not there should be a British exit (or “Brexit”) from the European Union. But how could this impact the electricity and gas market?

There’s another growing kerfuffle in Vermont, whichwe’vewrittenaboutbefore as it tries to balance a seemingly impossible array of choices as it moves forward with its energy future. It’s a small state, but some of the conflicts there are sure to be duplicated in other parts of the US…and the world.

If you are a coal producer focused on the Chinese market, I am sure you will be scratching your head thinking about the future. Ever since China started imposing restrictions on imports, suppliers have gone on a wild hunt for buyers.

The coal industry is in crisis. It has failed to recognize the structural shift in power generation driven by regulation rather than price and has missed the window of opportunity to invest in clean coal technologies. Now it faces a slow King Canute style demise, as elaborated by Ross McCracken, managing editor of Platts Energy Economist.

The amount of electricity generated by oil in New England has dropped significantly in recent months as natural gas-fired generation rose by 1,200 GWh month over month, the regional grid operator said.

Oil-fired power plants were relied up on more than usual this winter as the region was hit by frequent bouts of bitter cold. This explains at least in part the noticeable drop in oil’s share of the generation mix heading into the traditional shoulder season.

Swallowed up by the Edward Snowden story, a landmark Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, immigration reform and even the start of the George Zimmerman trial, President Barack Obama’s long-awaited plan to combat climate change failed to capture America’s hearts and minds last week.

Sure, the plan drew some acclaim from environmentalists, a wave of criticism from fossil fuel interests and a sharp rebuke from congressional Republicans, and even some coal-state Democrats, that Obama was continuing his “war on coal.” But the responses were little more than press release bluster and widely expected.